An apology or answer in defence of the Church of England with a brief…An apologie or answere in defence of the Churche of Englande with a briefe…

But be it so, Let the Bishop of Rome alone be above all Councils, that is to say, let some one part be greater then the whole, let him be of greater power, let him be of more wisdom then all his, and in spite of Hieromes head,¹ let the authority of one City be greater then the authority of the whole world. Howe then if the Pope have seen none of these things, & have never read either the scriptures or the old Fathers, or yet his own councils? How if he favour the Arians, as once Pope Liberius did? or have a wicked and a detestable opinion of the life to come, and of the immortality of the soul, as Pope John had but few years ⟨image 100⟩since? or to increase now his own dignity, do corrupt other Councils, as Pope Zosimus corrupted the Council holden at Nice in times past, and do say that those things were devised and appointed by the holy Fathers, which never once came into their thought, and to have the full sway of authority, do wrest the Scriptures, as Camotensis saith, is an usual custom with the Popes? How if he have renounced the faith in Christ, and become an Apostate, as Liranus saith many Popes have been? And yet for all this, shall the holy Ghost with turning of a hand, knock at his breast, & even whether he will or no, yea & wholly against his will, kindle him a light so as he may not err? shall he straight way be the head spring of all right, and shall all treasure of wisdom and understanding be found in him, as it were laid up in store? Or if these things be not in him, can he give a right and apt judgement of so weighty matters? Or if he be not ⟨image 101⟩able to judge, would he have that all those matters should be brought before him alone?

But be it so, Let the Byshop of Rome alone be aboue all Coūcelles, yt is to say, lette some one parte be greater then the whole, let hym be of greater power, let hym be of more wysedome then all his, and in spite of Hieromes head,¹ let ye aucthoritie of one Citie be greater then the aucthoritie of the whole worlde. Howe then if the Pope haue sene none of these things, & haue neuer read either ye scriptures or ye olde Fathers, or yet his owne coūcelles? How if he fauour ye Arriās, as once Pope Liberius did? or haue a wicked and a detestable opinion of the lyfe to come, and of the immortalitie of the soule, as Pope Iohn had but few yeres